haver de + Infinitive

Haver De for Obligation

Level 3

Haver de + infinitive expresses obligation or practical necessity.

How It Works

Conjugate haver for the person who must act: he de, has de, ha de, hem de, heu de, han de. The following infinitive does not change: hem de sortir. Keep de between the finite verb and the infinitive.

Obligation can be located in different times: havia de marxar describes a past necessity, hauré de marxar a future one, and hauria de marxar a conditional or softened one. The structure always retains de plus an infinitive.

Do not confuse havia de sortir with havia sortit. The first says an action was necessary or expected; the second says it had already happened. A past obligation does not by itself guarantee fulfillment. With a pronoun, he de fer-ho or ho he de fer can express the same object. No cal que vinguis is a clear alternative when the intended message is that attendance is unnecessary.

Examples (3)

  1. Havia de sortir a les sis.

    I had to leave at six.

  2. Haurem de revisar el document.

    We will have to review the document.

  3. Hauríeu de descansar una mica.

    You should rest a little.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

haver de + InfinitiveLevel 3Haver De for Obligation

Learn This First

Recognize haver de plus infinitive as obligation.

Words in This Pattern

haver dehaver